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How's your local economy?
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 2010-01-28 8:57 AM |
 Louisiana |  Subject: How's your local economy?How are things in your part of the country? Last PM Mr. Obama talked about the millions of jobs that have been created this year, 2 million to be exact with 3.5 million coming this year. We're coming out of this recession and things are looking good. A few new programs and tax breaks and we'll be rolling. We're going to find new markets for our products overseas, and new green jobs are on the horizon. Our healthcare expenses are going to decrease soon. The energy policy that should have been passed a decade ago is going through, and it will be good for the whole world. Change is coming. In my little southern map dot of a town, I'm not seeing the improvement. I own a small business and we're struggling to pay the bills day to day. My request for credit increase was once again denied. I may have to lay off employees in the next few months. I told my kid today, we may have to cut back on college expenses until things smooth out. Our local manufacturing plant laid off many last week. We're hunkering down, hoping things will get better soon. We're slow down here in the South, so maybe others are doing better. How is it where you are?
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| 2010-01-28 8:59 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Iron Donkey 38643      , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? Our county is just under the national avg at > 8%, national avg is > 9%. I'm lucky to have a job. |
| 2010-01-28 9:06 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Champion 14571 the alamo city, Texas | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? my division of my company is not doing well, but it's because of what we make is becoming less popular. there are jobs here. don't know a lot of people in the area that have been laid off, which is encouraging. |
| 2010-01-28 9:08 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
| Master 1895 | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? My company is doing fine (we contract with the Govt, go figure). But I hear every week about another friend that has been laid off. Three this week alone. I live near Detroit. |
| 2010-01-28 9:29 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Elite 4564 Boise | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? well, we have a good amount of very low paying jobs out here ($10/hr and under). Unfortunately we have very little for high paying jobs (over $10/hr) which sucks because I will be finishing school in May and I fully expect to have to move somewhere else to get a good job. |
| 2010-01-28 9:29 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Regular 121 Franklin, VA | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? Things are in the crapper in my little, local spot of the world. The big, local, manufacturing employer is closing the entire facility. Somewhere around 1,000 jobs gone. And that is a MAJOR percentage. |
| 2010-01-28 9:34 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Champion 6962 Atlanta, Ga | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? It's going great in my neck of the woods. Perhaps because I am in the 90% of having a job but I have not changed anything I am doing. My pay has not decreased nor am I worried about getting laid off unless I do something really stupid. |
| 2010-01-28 9:38 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Master 1641 Seattle, California | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? I'm up in Canada but Victoria has done ok. Our unemployment is 7.3% which is significantly higher then the less than 4% before the economic meltdown. We are still among the lowest in the country though. My company however is growing like crazy. There were 14 people at my company in my location in Jan of 2009 when I was hired and now we are up to 47! Edited by Global 2010-01-28 9:39 AM |
| 2010-01-28 9:52 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? Not sure where you are in Louisiana, but down here in Cajun Country we've barely seen a tick of a downturn, very few job losses, some spending and hiring freezes to be sure, but I think we've even been called a pocket of prosperity during the height of the current recession. Here are the statistics/propaganda on how the state has fared during the recession. |
| 2010-01-28 9:55 AM in reply to: #2639768 |
| Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? the bear - 2010-01-28 9:52 AM Not sure where you are in Louisiana, but down here in Cajun Country we've barely seen a tick of a downturn, very few job losses, some spending and hiring freezes to be sure, but I think we've even been called a pocket of prosperity during the height of the current recession. That and the Saints in the Superbowl! |
| 2010-01-28 10:00 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Member 64 Baton Rouge | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? Real estate is doing reasonably well here, but definitely no overall economic growth. I am lucky to have a job right now, as we are closely tied to oil and gas production and things are VERY SLOW right now. About half of our staff have been laid off over the past 18 months. |
| 2010-01-28 10:00 AM in reply to: #2639774 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back Gold member | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? 1stTimeTri - 2010-01-28 9:55 AM the bear - 2010-01-28 9:52 AM Not sure where you are in Louisiana, but down here in Cajun Country we've barely seen a tick of a downturn, very few job losses, some spending and hiring freezes to be sure, but I think we've even been called a pocket of prosperity during the height of the current recession. That and the Saints in the Superbowl! Yea BABY! Happy days are here again! Couple youTubes to cheer up our despndent brethren in other parts of the state: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnkLfYk_ff8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuVVvF-cDnA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9bwpMyAFXQ&feature=video_response |
| 2010-01-28 10:03 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Champion 4835 Eat Cheese or Die | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? twylite148 - 2010-01-28 8:57 AM We're going to find new markets for our products overseas, and new green jobs are on the horizon. I have to say that the overseas market has been good to my company this year. Historically our product has been way to expensive to sell overseas. It's all US made as well as being a premium product on top of that so even those who saw the value in the product couldn't justify the premium price. With the weak dollar our product has really taken off overseas which was a major help last year. Domestically we were down about 30% in 2009 but more then made up for it in overseas sales. On the green job side, I sell to the Power utility industry where many of the "green" jobs will be. The problem is that they are mostly low paying construction jobs that require people to move to where the job is. Not an easy thing to do when you are underwater with your mortgage and the job doesn't pay incredibly well. |
| 2010-01-28 10:07 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Pro 4277 Parker, CO | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? I'm employed and my wife has just been offerred a position if she chooses to get back to her career field. For us things are pretty good but I know that they are not for everyone around us. Restuarants in the town we live in have been closing and we have friends that are unempolyed or underemployed. The state budget is in the red so that means less funding for the schools. As a result, it's impacted our kids. Also, donations at our church are down. Not because there are fewer members, but because people are not giving as much. I'm not complaining...my income actually increased in 2009. I have friends that are employed and live in their own little world and think things are not that bad. They're fooling themselves. One of of ten people is out of work. And many people that are working are underemployed. |
| 2010-01-28 10:09 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Expert 839 Central Mass | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? Real estate is bad. Unless your buying. Values are 40-50% lower than they were 2 years ago. Commercial real estate is worse, every strip mall has some empty spaces. My office is profiting and hasn't layed anyone off (fired two guys, but that's different  )Sacramento's unemployment rate is high - 12.5% (7.4% 12 months ago, 5.6% 24 months ago). But unless you were in the mortgage industry or high-end retail, your fairly unaffected. My office building is 3 floors, we used to take up 1/4 of the 2nd floor. 1/2 the 3rd, 1/4 of the 2nd, and 1/4 of the first were lawyers, the rest of the space was mortgage companies. One of the lawyers moved out, and all but one of the mortgage companies left. |
| 2010-01-28 10:13 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Champion 5529 Nashville, TN | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? In Atlanta, we have certainly seen the unemployment rate reach double digits due to a number of reasons. There is definitely an abundance of retail space available. Namely the service industry (restaurants), tourism attractions and small business have taken a hit around town. However, our state is still seeing substantial growth in particular industries. Kia Motors opened about 9 months ago with 1200 employees. They are starting to hire a second wave of another 1200 employees and discussing ADDING another car to their existing line. This seemed highly unlikely when they started. Also, NCR is hiring nearly 2000 people in three different parts of the state. So there is economic growth and jobs being added. I know the net will still be negative but I do think all we hear about is doom and gloom a lot of times. Also, I am sure we can go round and round and round about the real impact of the stimulus plan. Most would agree that is hasn't created the jobs as initially anticipated (yet). I think most overlook the number of jobs that were retained as a result of the money. Unfortunately/fortunately (depends on your political views) many of these jobs were in the public sector--teachers, police, fire, etc. I can vouch for my agency and I know that the stimulus funds have saved us from firing about 150-200 people. Of course, this isn't 'job growth' and these types of jobs add to government payrolls. I do wonder, though, had all these people been fired would the city/county/state raise taxes on me to help cover costs? What was the cost of not receiving federal money? Can't say I would have been excited about extra taxes during the downturn. Somewhere, somehow the pubic was going to pay. I guess I have slight preference for that to be at the federal level where a balanced budget isn't mandated and debt can be carried. |
| 2010-01-28 10:26 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Veteran 840 | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? Company I work for is doing OK. But it has nothing to do with the Federal stimulus and they are paying down debt instead of expanding and hiring. They don't see next year being better and the years after that, who knows. Plus with the uncertainty of health care reform, carbon tax, increased other taxes, it's better to pay down debt and be set up to weather the storm. |
| 2010-01-28 10:48 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Extreme Veteran 3177 | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? Working the Healthcare field in a job that is stable as long as I dont screw up (If they loose my job it means our whole business is probably closing or being completely restructured - considering we are a non-profit that would be bad!). We even got a small cost of living increase in our pay last fall. The local economy seems to be about average though. With Boeing in the area, having finally gotten the dreamliner to fly, things are starting to look up there, Microsoft is holding steady though laid off many last year. A lot of professional jobs were last last year as well with the closing of WAMU. Starbucks is also laying off more than it is hiring. We seem to be holding steady from what I have read BUT there also do not seem to be many new jobs showing up in the area either. My wife is a teacher and those jobs are few and far between even for someone with a special ed certification. She has been subbing this year so we cut back on some expenses (eating out, got rid of cable last year, etc...) and have been getting by just fine. I do have friends and family who are out of work though. My sister and her husband in Spokane both lost their jobs, My wifes sister was laid off last year as well. Her other sisters husband just finished his masters (MBA) and so is looking for work so hopefully things pick up soon. |
| 2010-01-28 11:03 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Champion 5376 PA | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? Our company just merged a division to save over $10 million in 2010. I know many who were recently laid off. It was sad to see some of them go because there were some incredible workers in that batch. (not all, but a couple diamonds amongst coal) We have been steadily tightening over the past few years. Bonuses are few and far between and last year there were no salary increases. Many of us are thankful just to have a good job though so no complaints from me. Like my employer, I have been tightening the dicretionary budget at home and paying down debt. |
| 2010-01-28 11:06 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Arch-Bishop of BT 10278 Pittsburgh | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? Living in one of the best places in U.S. right now, Morgantown, WV... National news has been here doing profiles in our very low unemployment rate like 2.7%...lowest in nation at least at time of feature. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/29744203#29744203
Real estate sales have slowed and lowered a bit... but lots of jobs... construction, service, research... I think Morgantown will be positioned well when the recession lifts... |
| 2010-01-28 11:11 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
Master 1376 Chicago | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? The company I work for is doing great. I started here in May of 2008 and we had 35 people. We are now at 55 and have more work than people. Our backlog has grown tremendously. From a personal perspective I'm doing well. If you live in Chicago and have a lot of .NET experience or Project Mgmt experience shoot me a PM. We are looking for both. On the flip side I live in Illinois and Chicago. Our state and city are broke beyond belief. We have the highest sales tax in the country, we have some of the highest property taxes in the country and all the City of Chicago fee's are out of control (i.e. I had to pay $35 for a dog licenses this year. Last year it was $10). All of these fees (dog licenses, vehicle stickers, bottled water tax, etc...) are in essence a hidden tax. Unemployment in the state and city are well above national average and with how business unfriendly the city and state are jobs aren't being created or coming back. We are losing conventions left and right due to the costs, the unions charge $100 to deliver a case of bottled water to your booth. If something doesn't change quickly Chicago will be the next Detroit. It is sad to see the city falling apart the way it is. My wife and I make very good livings, but we are being priced out of Chicago. Edited by mattb1 2010-01-28 11:14 AM |
| 2010-01-28 11:25 AM in reply to: #2639528 |
| Louisiana | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? Thanks for your many posts. I was just looking for a personal perspective on the economy. Bear, I'm not despondent (although I did just fall off my bike trainer onto the concrete. OUCH!) Laworks.net has the raw data, so you can judge for yourself. Actually La is doing pretty well unless you're in the NE part of the state, but then, you've probably never been there anyway. My heart goes out to those of you in really down areas. It does affect our schools, our churches, our friends and families. It was good to hear from around the nation. It sounds like some areas are faring better than others, especially if you've got a gov't hookup. What's your hope for 2010? Mine looks better than 2009. |
| 2010-01-28 11:54 AM in reply to: #2639992 |
Elite 2768 Raleigh | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? akustix - 2010-01-28 11:06 AM Living in one of the best places in U.S. right now, Morgantown, WV... National news has been here doing profiles in our very low unemployment rate like 2.7%...lowest in nation at least at time of feature. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/29744203#29744203
Real estate sales have slowed and lowered a bit... but lots of jobs... construction, service, research... I think Morgantown will be positioned well when the recession lifts...
That is one of the funniest sentences I have ever read, right there in bold ^^^^^. Let me clarify that I was born and mostly raised in Huntington WV so I am allowed to talk about that state like the dog it is... The reason Morgantown is working is because of WVU and the prison... pretty much nothing else much in that town..... Actually in Nov 2009 it was 4.5 and the population is only about 30K...
But still I would not want to live in WV |
| 2010-01-28 12:00 PM in reply to: #2640156 |
Pro 4277 Parker, CO | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? trigods - 2010-01-28 10:54 AM akustix - 2010-01-28 11:06 AM Living in one of the best places in U.S. right now, Morgantown, WV... National news has been here doing profiles in our very low unemployment rate like 2.7%...lowest in nation at least at time of feature. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/29744203#29744203
Real estate sales have slowed and lowered a bit... but lots of jobs... construction, service, research... I think Morgantown will be positioned well when the recession lifts...
That is one of the funniest sentences I have ever read, right there in bold ^^^^^. Let me clarify that I was born and mostly raised in Huntington WV so I am allowed to talk about that state like the dog it is... The reason Morgantown is working is because of WVU and the prison... pretty much nothing else much in that town..... Actually in Nov 2009 it was 4.5 and the population is only about 30K...
But still I would not want to live in WV yea, I guess unemployment will be low when nobody wants to live there. |
| 2010-01-28 12:28 PM in reply to: #2639528 |
Regular 185 | Subject: RE: How's your local economy? December 09 unemployment rate: 13.4%. Need I say more? |
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